South Africa drought casts a shadow on the 2019 vintage

The 2019 South African vintage will be the smallest since 2005 and the volume is less than the 2018 drought hit vintage. Rain at the end of the year was a double edged sword, providing needed water but meaning that the cool conditions in February and March hampered ripening of many of the later ripening red varieties.

The variety that appears to have done the best is Chenin Blanc where the cooler night time conditions in December and January gave freshness to the wines.